High & Inside: Rockies Community Newsletter

January 2014

This Months Features:

Precious CarGo for Families in Need

On Saturday, Dec. 14, Carlos Gonzalez and his family, wife Indonesia and son Santiago, hosted the Precious CarGo Toy Drive at two separate locations, collecting nearly 500 toys for Colorado families in need.

Part one of the Precious CarGo Toy Drive took place at Coors Field and fans were lined up on Blake Street starting about 5 a.m.-four hours before the 9 a.m. start time-to get a CarGo autograph and donate their toy. After two hours of autographs for toys, Carlos and his family headed south to the new Colorado Spring Dugout Store for part two of Precious CarGo.

When the Gonzalez family arrived in Colorado Springs, they were met with another long line of fans that were there to donate a toy to those less fortunate in the season of giving. Toys donated at the Colorado Springs location stayed in Southern Colorado, finding their way to local charities, and toys donated by fans at the Coors Field location were given to a variety of Denver-area organizations: Samaritan House, Tennyson Center for Children, Vino y Chocolate Toy Drive, GIVE Denver-Adopt a Family and Children's Hospital Colorado.

"I'm so glad we can make it happen," Gonzalez told Rockies.com on the day of the event. "It's been so great to spend time with the community, with the fans. I'm surprised how many people showed up today. I'm really excited because it's a good cause."

While Precious CarGo was a Gonzalez-inspired initiative, it wasn't the only holiday project Gonzalez participated in this year, and on Dec. 6, CarGo spent time at Children's Hospital Colorado for the annual Make-A-Wish Holiday Wish Store. For the Holiday Wish Store, patients who are unable to leave the hospital are afforded the opportunity to go "gift shopping" for their families from items donated to the Wish Store. CarGo was at the Wish Store with Dinger, signing autographs for kids and posing for photos.

Even though the Holiday Season is over until next year, Carlos and the Gonzalez family certainly made a difference in the lives of many families this year.

"We're going to help a lot of people, a lot of kids, with Christmas presents," Gonzalez said. "I'm really proud to be a part of all this, and the Rockies organization, too."

Rockies Fest 2014

Rockies Fest is coming!

Scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25 at Coors Field, Rockies Fest will feature many of the events and opportunities fans have grown to love: player question and answer sessions, autograph opportunities, Rockies Family Feud, clinics, kids areas, merchandise garage sale and much, much more. This year, Rockies Fest will consist of two different sessions, a morning session exclusive and free to Rockies Season Ticket Holders and an afternoon session open to the public with tickets available for a $25 donation to Rockies Charities ($1 for children).

While Rockies Fest is sure to be a great time for all who attend, the ROCK SOCIAL Studio will bring the experience to fans who cannot make it to Rockies Fest through a variety of fun and unique social media initiatives throughout the day. Stay tuned to Rockies social media for more info on the ROCK SOCIAL Studio.

Click below for more information on Rockies Fest, including a list of players scheduled to attend.

Spring Training Approaches

Spring Training is fast approaching and the Rockies' schedule for Spring Training 2014 is set.

Rockies pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Salt River Fields on Feb. 15, for their first workout on Feb. 17. Position players are set to report on Feb 21, with the first full-squad workout scheduled for Feb. 23. The Rockies' first Cactus League game will be Friday, Feb. 28 at 1:05 p.m. against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rockies' first home game of the 2014 Spring Training schedule is Sunday, Mar. 2 vs. Milwaukee and the Rockies have a stretch of six-straight home games at Salt River Fields, March 19-24. Individual game tickets for Rockies games at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick will be on sale beginning Jan. 11, at 10:00 a.m., available at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick center-field ticket office, the Coors Field Ticket Office, all Rockies Dugout Store locations, online at Rockies.com or by calling 1 (888) 490-0383 or (480) 362-WINS. Click below for more details, including ticket information, travel packages and more.

Rockies Fantasy Camp

Rockies Fantasy Camp is fast approaching, taking place Feb. 5-9, at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Rockies Fantasy Camp is the premier Fantasy Camp experience in baseball-an all-inclusive "dirt cruise" and the experience of a lifetime. Roster spots are still available, so click below for more information!

Player Spotlight - Brett Anderson

On Dec. 10, during the Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., the Rockies completed the acquisition of LHP Brett Anderson from the Oakland Athletics. By sending LHP Drew Pomeranz and Minor League RHP Chris Jensen to the A's, the Rockies acquired Anderson, a player who was the Opening Day starter for Oakland in 2013 and who they believe can be a front-of-the-rotation arm.

Anderson, 25, has compiled a 26-29 record over the course of his career with a 3.81 ERA in 450.2 innings pitched. Originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Anderson was, along with Carlos Gonzalez, part of a trade that sent them both from Arizona to Oakland in 2007 and he has pitched in the Majors since 2009.

Though Anderson has struggled with injuries over the past few seasons, Rockies Senior Vice President of Major League Operations/Assistant General Manager Bill Geivett believes the Midland, Texas, native is primed to thrive in Colorado and help improve the Rockies starting rotation in 2014.

"Anderson puts us in position to perform better out of the rotation right now," Geivett told Rockies.com at the Winter Meetings. "As far as his health, he's been through the last couple years with injuries, the last one being the foot. But we're comfortable with that and the progress he's made. We feel like we're getting an impact starter in this deal."

Community Spotlight - Dr. Jerry Clayton

During the Colorado Rockies Hal O'Leary Awards last September, Dr. Jerry Clayton was honored with the Leadership Award for his longtime commitment to disabled sports. Along with working as a research scientist at Children's Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Dr. Clayton has also volunteered for the past 30 years at various organizations that teach and support disabled athletics, including the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Dr. Clayton has most of his experience with sit-skiing, but he also teaches other modified sports such as swimming, track & field and more.

Due to his vast experience in the area of wheelchair sports, Dr. Clayton also serves as an official for wheelchair sports and he has worked almost every National Junior Disability Championship over the last 20 years. He is also among a select group of athletic officials from around the world who are considered technical delegates who oversee track & field events that have International Paralympic Credentialing, making sure they run according to stated rules and regulations. He has also been working with the National Paralympic Committee to develop online training courses for officials.

Dr. Clayton is a true leader who knows what it means to give back to improve the lives of others.